Executive Letter – Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

Executive Director Letter, Fall 2026

This summer was invigorating not just for IRT Scholars, but also for those of us in the broader IRT community. During these difficult times in education, this community continues to inspire me. I saw these opportunities throughout our Summer Workshop as we built an intentional learning community.

It’s easy to look at our challenging circumstances and assume hope is lost. The Summer Workshop challenges those beliefs through the wonderful research of our scholars and the dedication of our Consortium Deans. I felt inspired by our deans as they discussed the issues at their universities and the research opportunities they find. Our Recruiters Weekend allowed scholars to connect with alumni, see evidence of their work, and acknowledge the realities of their experiences.

Executive Director Letter, June 2026

Summer 2026

It’s here!

After admitting our newest class and graduating our most recent, the IRT is thrilled to launch our newest summer workshop. This workshop will continue to build on our previous virtual delivery with curriculum delivery, Chalk Talks, Recruiters Weekend, and opportunities for scholars to demonstrate their learning. I am excited to see how our Summer faculty will continue to develop ways to support scholars through these shifts in higher education and greater society.

Executive Director Letter, March 2026

The Impact of IRT

IRT Scholars continue to impress me year after year. Spring is our season of buzz, when scholars reach out to share if they’ve heard back from the schools they applied to. Some navigate interviews, while others send updates on their Scholar Chat. No matter the outcome, I am consistently filled with pride.

Throughout my IRT tenure, higher education has been evolving — from the COVID-19 pandemic to attacks on diversity in education — and it has not been an easy time to stay committed to improving educational outcomes. Yet time and again, I see IRT Scholars not only working hard to submit their applications but also witnessing our alumni make a significant difference in the lives of others.

Executive Director Letter, January 2026

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” — MLK “The Purpose of Education,” 1947

Happy New Year, IRT Community!

As we head into the depths of winter, the IRT staff is hard at work supporting our scholars. This fall was a difficult one, as many scholars navigated program changes and ultimately submitted their applications. We are continually grateful for our broader IRT community – our Consortium partners, alumni who advise scholars through SOP advising, and friends of the program who support our work. Our Scholars worked to complete their applications by the December 15 deadline, and many are now hearing back about interviews. We are proud of all our scholars for embarking on this process during such a difficult time.

Executive Director Letter, October 2025

Harlem
Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

To be transparent, the last few months have also been difficult – I have met with numerous scholars who have had to defer due to personal circumstances or concerns regarding the state of education. To that end, I struggled to imagine what I could say in this newsletter to fully encapsulate this moment, a tension of both hope, sadness, and awareness. However, during my second Jimmy Fund Walk, I think I figured it out.

As I waved to the young cancer patients at Dana-Farber and took my first steps of the 5K, I realized that is all we can do. Put one foot in front of the other, even though we are vulnerable. Throughout the walk, I thought of how so many people in our community are affected by cancer – and yet we all continue to do our best. Those lessons, however small, apply to my feelings about our current reality in higher education. We may not know the outcome, but we can continue to move forward as best we can. To some degree, that is what our scholars are doing.